Mars Single Malt KOMAGATAKE 40th Anniversary Special Edition

Mars Single Malt KOMAGATAKE 40th Anniversary Special Edition

Mars Single Malt KOMAGATAKE 40th Anniversary Special Edition is a limited-release single malt whisky from Mars Komagatake Distillery in Nagano, Japan, created to celebrate the distillery’s 40th anniversary. It is a commemorative blend of malt whiskies drawn from multiple eras, including the 1980s, 1990s, 2010s and 2020s, reflecting the distillery’s four-decade journey. The flavour profile is built around apple jam, ripe apricot, melon, vanilla, raisin, maple syrup, cinnamon, sweet chestnut and chocolate, with subtle smoke and mature oak influence.

Vinification & Style

Mars Komagatake Distillery was established in 1985 and is located in Japan, Nagano, as one of Hombo Shuzo’s flagship single malt whisky sites. The 40th Anniversary Special Edition blends malt whiskies matured in a range of casks such as ex-Bourbon, sherry and American oak, and is bottled non-chill filtered to preserve texture and character. Official information states that it is bottled at 700ml and 50% ABV, with a limited outturn of around 5,000 bottles, making it a highly collectible anniversary release.

Tasting Notes

Colour: Bright golden amber to amber, clear and luminous, showing the balance achieved through multi-cask maturation.
Nose: Apple jam, ripe apricot, melon, vanilla, mature oak, raisin bread, caramel and baked notes, followed by light smoke and spice.
Palate: Raisins and maple syrup lead the way, followed by cinnamon, sweet chestnut, chocolate, almond and gentle oak spice; medium-to-full body with a rounded, layered texture.
Finish: Medium-long, with lingering sweet chestnut, cocoa, spice, ripe fruit and soft wood tones, ending warmly and cleanly.

Reviews & Accolades

Official release notes: The whisky was created to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Komagatake Distillery, focusing on the distillery’s history and evolution rather than a single vintage character.
Japanese Whisky Dictionary: Describes the nose with apple jam, agave syrup and raisin bread, and the palate with Mont Blanc cream, cinnamon, almond jelly and raw chocolate, presenting it as mature and dessert-like.
Market response: The official price is around ¥29,700, while some secondary-market and retail listings sit higher, underlining its limited-release and collectible status.daimon.
Other expert commentary: Reviews frame it as a whisky that looks back on the distillery’s path through different generations of spirit, making it especially appealing as a commemorative pour.

Special Info

This is a limited release with an estimated 5,000 bottles, bottled at 50% ABV in a 700ml gift-box presentation. Its blend of multiple generations of spirit, spanning the 1980s, 1990s, 2010s and 2020s, gives it a strong historical narrative. Because it is an anniversary release, it is generally valued as a collectible and gifting whisky as much as a drinking whisky.

Origin: Japan, Nagano
Type: Whisky
Style: Single Malt Japanese Whisky
ABV: 50%
Volume: 700ml